Confucian Thoughts and the Spirit of Chinese Tea Ceremony

Each nation has its own unique cultural system and individual characteristics. Great differences exist in the orientation of culture and values between the East and West. The West advocates fire and power, while China is characterized as peaceful, gentle and kind, firm and tenacious. These qualities are fully shown in the golden mean and harmony, the characteristics of Confucian thought. Tea, which is gentle and peaceful, accords with these characteristics. Though Taoism and Buddhism have played important roles in the development of tea culture, Confucian thought is regarded as the core of the spirit of Chinese tea ceremony, which is demonstrated in the following four aspects.